New county: To be or not to be?

I am frequently questioned about the proposed paring of Riverside County down to more manageable proportions. While it is abundantly clear to me that there is heightened interest in this idea, the bottom line remains that until cities step up, this talk of re-creating Riverside County remains talk. Apparently the evils remain on the sufferable side given that none have yet committed the time or treasure needed to offer the movement legs.

Up to now, that is. Of late I have noted that interest in secession among elected officials and electorate county-wide is rapidly morphing into the potential for a real movement. With this in mind, I offer wisdom that did not originate with me.

First, secession is serious: Tell us what’s wrong. “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Second, secession is severe: Is it really that bad? “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”

Third, if secession is sensible: Where can we sign up? “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

The Declaration of Independence makes it clear that the Founders understood secession’s seriousness. As we in Riverside County consider an idea that, although percolating for decades, seems now to be on the threshold of coalescing into a municipal movement based on generally agreed upon abuses, we would be wise to consider their counsel.

While it seems that the current rhetoric may indicate a new resolve, until the trigger is pulled every solution short of secession should be sought. To that end I would encourage city councils to focus on building bridges rather than reinforcing walls, making every effort to resolve the growing list of local control conflicts. After all, their counterparts on Riverside’s Board of Supervisors are good men doing the difficult job of governing a vast county whose demography is as incredibly diverse as its geography – a reality that is also, ironically, the most often stated reason for secession.

But make no mistake, time is running out as the arguments for and against are being analyzed. Should those furthest from the impacts of their decisions continue to govern at the expense of those closest to those impacts, at some point the assault on residents' local control will cease to be sufferable. If that line is ever crossed, I am confident that city leaders will act, not necessarily because they want to, but because it will be their duty.

Doug McAllister is a Murrieta resident and former member of the Murrieta